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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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 ANALYSIS 
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Cure Still Elusive as Cancer Treatments Improve

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(Newser) – The world’s largest cancer conference convened this weekend and offered some hope but no cures, USA Today reports. Researchers are getting closer to developing treatments that are gentler and more individualized, and that increase longevity and quality of life. But a cure remains elusive, and even the most promising drugs offer only a few more months of life.

“We're not anywhere near where patients would like to be," said the president of a cancer survivors’ coalition. “In the scientific community, things may look like breakthroughs. But they're really viewed much more soberly by patients."

Elijah Alexander, retired NFL linebacker and founder of the Tackle Myeloma Foundation, signs a petition on behalf of cancer patients' rights at the ASCO conference in Orlando, Fla., May 30, 2009.
Elijah Alexander, retired NFL linebacker and founder of the Tackle Myeloma Foundation, signs a petition on behalf of cancer patients' rights at the ASCO conference in Orlando, Fla., May 30, 2009.   (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Images for International Myeloma Foundation)
Surgeons prepare a catheter during surgery for William Darker, who is undergoing a unique cancer treatment that uses ultra-high doses of chemotherapy that are isolated to the liver.
Surgeons prepare a catheter during surgery for William Darker, who is undergoing a unique cancer treatment that uses ultra-high doses of chemotherapy that are isolated to the liver.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
William Darker of Imperial Beach, Calif., prepares to undergo a unique cancer treatment at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., Tuesday, March 24, 2009.
William Darker of Imperial Beach, Calif., prepares to undergo a unique cancer treatment at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., Tuesday, March 24, 2009.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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2 comments
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Chudluv
Jun 1, 09 3:20 PM CDT
Hey right... Health Care Company's aren't out there for their "good" nature by providing care to people. When was the last Cure ever last seen in the world? Polio vaccine was last cure and since then it's been business as usual. My thoughts are we should raid some of theses Cancer Drug company's and see what comes up. Reply
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Imnottelling
Jun 1, 09 10:40 PM CDT
@Chudluv: Er... Why do I get the feeling that you don't know anything about cancer at all...? http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=1162
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